ReStore adds Sappington to staff

Terry “T” Sappington (front row, left) is the new manager of the Huntington County Habitat for Humanity ReStore. Photo by Cindy Klepper.

Terry "T" Sappington is the new manager of Huntington County Habitat for Humanity's ReStore.

Sappington joined the ReStore, which sells donated new and used home items and construction materials, in mid-March.

Sappington comes to the ReStore with a background in both construction and retail sales - he worked as an electrical contractor in California for more than 35 years and was a department manager at Lowe's in Fort Wayne for six years.

He says he plans to institute a couple of new programs at the ReStore, including a show of appreciation to donors and hands-on workshops that will include both home repair and craft topics.

Crafters are making up an increasing number of the ReStore's customers, Sappington says, as they come in search of materials to recreate projects posted on the popular Pinterest photo sharing website.

The first of the workshops will be held as part of the ReStore's Earth Day celebration in April, says Jean Wright, executive director of Habitat for Humanity.

In addition to being responsible for the ReStore, its stock and staff, Sappington will also work with the contractor on Habitat home builds - the next one is scheduled to begin in May - and will coordinate Habitat's smaller home repair projects around the community.

Habitat plans to conduct more of the smaller projects, which involve helping homeowners with repairs or teaching them how to do the repairs themselves, Wright says.

Habitat is currently seeking veterans who would like help with home repairs, she notes.

The ReStore, locaed at 325 Hauenstein Road, has new hours - Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Donations are always accepted, and the ReStore staff can pick up larger items.

Complete caption:Terry "T" Sappington (front row, left) is the new manager of the Huntington County Habitat for Humanity ReStore. The staff includes (front row, from left) employees Margo Crawford and Heather Green; and (back row, from left) employee Tom Laupp and volunteers Ted Metzger and Dennis Huston.